T1 Energy Announces $850M Solar Cell Factory in Milam County, Texas

T1 Energy, formerly FREYR Battery, has selected Milam County, Texas, as the site for its new U.S. solar cell factory. The G2 Austin facility is expected to be one of the largest solar manufacturing facilities in the country.

According to T1 Energy’s Q4 and full-year 2024 report, the company will invest up to $850 million in the new facility, creating up to 1,800 direct advanced manufacturing jobs. Construction is slated to begin in mid-2025, with commercial production expected to launch in the second half of 2026.

Expansion in Texas The announcement follows T1 Energy’s recent acquisition of a 5-gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar module factory in Wilmer, Texas, from China-headquartered Trina Solar. Renamed G1 Dallas, the plant employs over 1,000 people and has already exceeded production expectations. During the first two months of 2025, the facility produced more than 220MW of solar panels, surpassing planned output by 48%.

“Our teams are making impressive progress with the ramp of U.S. solar module production at G1 Dallas. We are moving forward swiftly with project development of our planned G2 Austin U.S. solar cell facility, and we are executing our global corporate transformation to build a cash flow powerhouse,” said Daniel Barcelo, T1’s Chairman of the Board and CEO.

With G2 Austin joining G1 Dallas and the company’s new global headquarters in Austin, T1 Energy’s Texas Triangle investments now total more than $1.1 billion. The company aims to become a fully integrated U.S. leader in solar and battery storage manufacturing.

T1 Energy’s expansion aligns with Texas’ growing commitment to renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, positioning the company as a key player in the U.S. solar industry.

Looking Ahead T1 Energy’s strategy focuses on building a vertically integrated solar and battery storage supply chain in the U.S. The company expects its G1 Dallas module assembly plant to reach a production target of 3.4 GW in 2025. With the addition of the G2 Austin solar cell factory, T1 aims to establish a strong domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem.

“Adding solar cell manufacturing is foundational to building out T1’s American supply chain,” said Barcelo. “We are excited to take that next step right here in Texas, where the state’s leadership and business community have continued to develop the infrastructure, talent, and business climate necessary to support this project.”

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